System and method for configuring a host for operationally cooperating with data storage system and including selective host adapter settings

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a system, method, and apparatus for configuring a host computer to cooperatively operate with a data storage system in a data storage environment, and includes selective ability to configure a host adapter globally or specifically according to its topology and/or connections. This invention provides particular advantages when configuring a Unix-based host, such as a Sun Solaris computer available from Sun Microsystems of Santa Clara, Calif., USA in connection with a data storage system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/403,748 filed Mar. 31, 2003 entitled “A System and Methodfor Configuring a Host for Operationally Cooperating with Data StorageSystem” to Gregory Barker and this Application claims priority under 35U.S.C. 120 to that earlier-filed Application. This application is alsorelated to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/403,473 filed Mar. 31,2003 and entitled “A System and Method for Generating a World Wide Namefor US with a Host for Enabling Communication with a Data StorageSystem” to Gregory Barker, and wherein each of the above-referencedearlier-filed U.S. patent applications are assigned to EMC, the assigneeof the present U.S. patent application, and each of theseabove-referenced earlier-filed U.S. patent applications are incorporatedby reference herein.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains commandformats and other computer language listings, all of which are subjectto copyright protection. The copyright owner, EMC Corporation, has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to management of host computersoperating in a data storage environment, and more particularly to asystem and method for configuring a host computer to cooperate with oneor more data storage systems in such an environment.

2. Background of the Invention

Computer systems may include different resources used by one or morehost processors. Resources and host processors in a computer system maybe interconnected by one or more communication connections. Theseresources may include, for example, data storage systems, such as theClariion or Symmetrix family of data storage systems manufactured by EMCCorporation of Hopkinton, Mass. These data storage systems may becoupled to one or more host processors and provide storage services toeach host processor.

A host processor may perform a variety of data processing tasks andoperations using the data storage system. For example, a host processormay perform basic system I/O operations in connection with data requestssuch as data read and write operations. Host processor systems may storeand retrieve data using a storage device containing a plurality of hostinterface units, disk drives, and disk interface units. Such storagedevices are provided, for example, by EMC Corporation of Hopkinton,Mass. and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,939 to Yanai et hereinincorporated in their respective entirety by this reference.

Data storage systems are widely used because of all the function andfeature they provide, but configuring a computer, such as a hostcomputer that must operationally cooperate with such a system isproblematic. Problems exist with installing, maintaining, configuring,upgrading and/or revising such a host computer for more than one reason.Some problems exist because the host requires specific editing ofcomplex files exposing the process to potential errors due to complexityand tedious operations. Other problems, which may co-exist with thosediscussed above, exist because there is typically very widespreaddistribution of systems and their components. For example, a network mayhave several storage systems distributed globally. Configuration of ahost to operate within a particular data storage environment is taxing,but sometimes multiple configurations may be required as components areadded or the overall system is upgraded. It would be advantageous if atool to help with host configuration could be performed by someone whois not particularly skilled with complex administration or softwareskills. Therefore it would be an advantage if such a tool could be easyto use, but it would also be an advantage if such software could beeasily updated as the software product being installed is revised orupgraded. The same set of problems applies to software used formaintenance, upgrades and revisions, and therefore the same set ofadvantages are also desirable for software used in such activities.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is a method, apparatus, and system including acomputer-readable medium encoded for performing certain process stepsand wherein each is for configuring a host to operate cooperatively witha data storage system within a data storage environment, and is enabledfor configuring a host adapter with global or specific settings inaccordance with the topology and connections of the environment in whichit is employed.

In one embodiment, the invention includes a method that has steps forpreparing a host computer for operating in a cooperative fashion with adata storage system. The method comprises the steps of: establishing acommunication path between the data storage system and a configurationprogram operating in the host computer; editing at least one hostcomputer configuration file related to a host adapter in the hostcomputer for communicating with a host interface adapter in the datastorage system under configuration program control; and updating thehost computer configuration file related to the host adapter in the hostcomputer in response to the editing step. The method includes steps forconfiguring a host adapter with global or specific settings inaccordance with the topology and connections of the environment in whichit is employed In other embodiments the invention includes an apparatusand system that is configured for carrying out process steps similar tothose described above in. reference to the method embodiment of thisinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and further advantages of the present invention may be betterunder stood by referring to the following description taken intoconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a diagrammatic relationship of a functionalblock diagram showing a data storage environment including a host, adata storage system, and a tool including computer code or program logicfor configuring the host to cooperatively function with the data storagesystem in the data storage environment and showing a computer-readablemedium encoded with the computer code or program logic;

FIG. 2 is a further schematic showing functional relationships ofcomputer code or program logic for carrying out the configuration of thehost of FIG. 1 for cooperatively operating with the data storage system,also of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a logical flow diagram of the method of this invention carriedout with the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another logical flow diagram of the method of this inventioncarried out with the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is another logical flow diagram of the method of this inventioncarried out with the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is another logical flow diagram of the method of this inventioncarried out with the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is another logical flow diagram of the method of this inventioncarried out with the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is another logical flow diagram of the method of this inventioncarried out with the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is another logical flow diagram of the method of this inventioncarried out with the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary representation of a user screen for enabling theuse of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 19 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 20 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 21 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 22 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 23 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 24 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 25 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 26 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 27 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1 and which is useful with theworld wide name (WWN) module of this tool shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 28 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1 and which is useful with theworld wide name (WWN) module of this tool shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 29 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1 and which is useful with theworld wide name (WWN) module of this tool shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 30 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1 and which is useful with theworld wide name (WWN) module of this tool shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 31 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1 and which is useful with theworld wide name (WWN) module of this tool shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 32 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1 and which is useful with theworld wide name (WWN) module of this tool shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 33 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1 and which is useful with theworld wide name (WWN) module of this tool shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 34 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1 and which is useful with theworld wide name (WWN) module of this tool shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 35 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1 and which is useful with theworld wide name (WWN) module of this tool shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 36 is another exemplary representation of a user screen forenabling the use of the tool of FIG. 1 and which is useful with theworld wide name (WWN) module of this tool shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Introduction and General

The system, methods and apparatus of the present invention may be usedwith data storage systems, such as the Clariion Data Storage System andthe Symmetrix Integrated Cache Disk Array system, each available fromEMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass.

The methods and apparatus of this invention may take the form, at leastpartially, of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in tangiblemedia, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, random access orread only-memory, or any other machine-readable storage medium, such asmedium 30 (FIG. 1). The program code is loaded into and executed by amachine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus forpracticing the invention. The methods and apparatus of the presentinvention may also be embodied in the form of program code that istransmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electricalwiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form oftransmission, and may be implemented such that herein, when the programcode is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as acomputer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention.When implemented on one or more general-purpose processors, the programcode combines with such a processor to provide a unique apparatus thatoperates analogously to specific logic circuits.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a data storage environment 10 including a data storagesystem 24, which in a preferred embodiment is a Clariion or Symmetrixfrom EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass. The data storage system 24includes a host interface adapter 23, a Fibre Channel, SCSI adapter oriSCSI adapter for communicating with a host adapter in the host computer20 known as host bus adapter (HBA) 21 in the preferred environment.Computer 20 includes program logic tool 22, which in a preferredembodiment is configured in Perl language program code. A Data StorageSystem Application Program 25, such as EMC PowerPath available from EMCor Veritas DMP, which is available from Veritas Software Corporation,Mountain View, Calif., USA, interfaces operationally with logic 22. Thelogic 22 may also be included on a computer-readable medium 30 forenabling the carrying out of the methods and processes of this inventiondescribed herein. When loaded into ordinary well-known computer memory(not shown) of computer 20 and executed by a well-known CPU (also notshown) of the computer 20, the logic enables the computer to become aspecial purpose apparatus for carrying out the invention. The executionof the logic invokes a computer process for carrying out the methodsteps described herein.

The tool or logic 22 includes several modules, including a Run module32, Connect module 34, Select module 36, World Wide Name (WWN) module38, and Configure module 40, and Update module 42. These modules areinvolved in carrying out the method of this invention described belowwith reference to FIGS. 3-9 and user screen representations in FIGS.10-26, below.

Generally, the tool embodied in this invention may be used aidconfiguration of a host computer, such as a SUN Solaris host forconnection and cooperative operation with a data storage system, e.g.either an EMC Symmetrix or Clariion disk array via various switching andtopological schemes including via “Switched Fabric” or “ArbitratedLoop”. This tool is designed to automate the initial setup andconfiguration of a SUN Solaris host, for both Symmetrix and Clariionattachments.

Advantages provided by the invention include reduction of errors whileconfiguring host computers that must communicate and cooperativelyoperate with data storage systems. In prior art techniques forconfiguring hosts may have included the use of ad hoc scripts andprocedures that could lead to problems and unpredictable results.Otherwise such configuring has been performed on a manual basis, whichis at least time-consuming and costly in terms of human capital. Priorart tools may have included specialized tools that were customized andnot able to provide general flexibility as is provided by the presentinvention.

In summary, the present invention expedites the configuration of a hostfor connection to a data storage system, reduces the possibility oferrors when editing configuration files and increases the accuracy ofconfiguration file settings. It also saves time by automating the tasksrequired to configure a SUN host.

Preferably the tool is embodied in program code or logic, such as acompiled program in the PERL programming language. While the exemplaryembodiment discussed herein is shown operating in a SUN and thus Unix OSenvironment the general teachings are applicable in various environmentsincluding an Intel-based computer operating in the Windows OSenvironment, or computing environments, which may be developed in thefuture. The tool may support multiple file configurations and differentHBA types. An important advantage provided by the tool is its ability tocalculate WWN's in accordance with predetermined formula for doing so inaccordance with protocols prescribed for a particular data storagesystem for which the host to be configured with is cooperativelyoperational. In the exemplary embodiment this is illustrated withreference to preferred Symmetrix Fibre Adapters (FA's) or ClariionStorage Processors (SP's), each of which can interface with anappropriately configured HBA.

FIGS. 3-9 show logical flow diagrams of the method of this inventioncarried out with the tool of FIG. 1, which is further detailed in FIG.2, and reference is also made herein to screen shots simply portrayed inFIGS. 10-26 which give an exemplary view of the operation of the tool onhost 20.

Referring to FIG. 3, the Tool 22 is run on host computer 20 is run,which in a preferred environment is a Unix-based computer, such as a SunComputer from Sun Microsystems of Santa Clara, Calif., USA. FIG. 10shows startup of the tool on screen shot 120, and this also showsoperation of the Run module 32 (FIG. 2). The host 20, which needs to beconnected for operational cooperation, including communication, withdata storage system 24, which in a preferred embodiment is an EMCClariion or Symmetrix Disk Array, and communication occurs over adapter23. In step 43, an optional identification step of entering the user'sname is carried out. The level of the host is defined in step 48, andFIG. 11 shows a representation of operating system levels, which a usermay select from a menu of options shown on screen shot 122. Connectingstep 49 identified with letter A flows into identical step 49 in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4 which depicts another logical flow diagram, step 49flows into steps 50-60 which all embody the operation of the connectmodule 34 (FIG. 2) and which operation is illustrated in FIG. 12. Step50 involves connecting the host to a Symmetrix via fabric or loopconnection to produce HBA global settings, and Step 52 involvesconnecting the host to a Symmetrix via fabric and loop connection toproduce HBA specific settings. Step 54 involves connecting the preferredSun host to a Clariion via fabric connection to produce HBA globalsettings. Step 56 involves connecting the preferred Sun host to an EMCClariion and another Clariion or an EMC Symmetrix and/or one of eachtype via fabric in an “AND OR” loop to produce HBA specific settings.Step 58 includes changing FA worldwide name (WWN) bindings for theSymmetrix, while step 60 involves changing SP WWN bindings for Clariion.Such WWN changes may be made via calculations via operation of thisinvention, which provides important advantages over known prior art.Connecting steps 62 and 64 identified with letters B and C respectivelyflows into identical step 62 and 64 in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, connecting step 62 flows into step 66 wherein theuser selects the HBA for editing, and likewise connecting step 64 flowsinto step 68 wherein the user selects the HBA for editing the WWNbinding. Following either step, the user can record the WWN's of theselected HBA for future zoning in step 70. The above steps embody theoperation of the select module 36 and WWN module 38 (FIG. 2) and whichoperation is illustrated in FIGS. 13-15. Connecting steps 72 and 74identified with letters B and C respectively flows into identical step72 and 74 in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 6, connecting step 72 flows into step 76, wherein theuser has to select file to edit, e.g. configuration file for the HBA ora system file on the Host, which step is invokes the select and WWNmodules and also involves the configure module 40 (FIG. 2). An exemplaryembodiment of operation of Steps 76-84 shown in FIG. 6 is illustrated inFIGS. 16-20. In step 78, the user must determine if certain applicationprograms that may interact with the host and storage system, for exampleEMC PowerPath or Veritas DMP are installed. The file selected such asthe etc/system file on the host computer is updated by the program logic22 in step 80. The user must input the first HBA number for theinstallation routine in step 82. For the data storage system, certaintypes of topological configurations are typically available in a datastorage environment. For example, for a preferred EMC Symmetrix(sometimes abbreviated herein as a Symm) the user can select either afabric of loop connection. If attaching to a preferred Clariion datastorage system the tool 22 will allow a default of fabric only. The justdescribed actions describe step 84. Step 84 flows into connecting step86 labeled F, which flows into identical connecting step 86 so-labeledon FIG. 8.

Now referring to FIG. 7, operation begin with connection step 74branched thereto from FIG. 5 operations of the method steps. Differentchoices placed a user down this path which has similarities to thoseshown in FIG. 6, and also involving the select and WWN modules and alsoinvolves the configure module 40 (FIG. 2). An exemplary embodiment ofoperation of Steps 76-84 shown in FIG. 6 is illustrated in FIGS. 16-20.In step 88 the user has to select a file to edit, which may be the HBAconfiguration file or the sd.conf file dependent on the type of HBAselected. In step 90, the use picks which WWN's need to be changed. Toget to the WWN selection, in step 92, the user will enter the Symmetrixserial number, if that is the data storage system, but in any case anymanufacturer will have a protocol for defining its WWN and that shouldbe followed. If for example the data storage system is embodied as aClariion configuration the user will enter a new Clariion serial numberor seed number, which is the protocol by which that particular system isdesigned to arrive at its unique WWN for each unit. In step 94, the usewill select a Fiber Channel Adapter (FA) to connect to (FIG. 22illustrates this action), or for a Clariion embodiment the user willselect a new SP. Step 92 flows into connecting step 86 labeled F, whichflows into identical connecting step 86 also so-labeled on FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 shows certain steps, which can be carried out, and whether theyare is dependent on data storage environment topology, data storagesystem embodiment, application programs operating in the data storageenvironment. In step 98, after selecting the new FA or SP the program,logic, or tool 22 replaces the original WWN with the new WWN, whichprovides an advantage over the prior art and which is discussed hereinin detail appearing below. The steps described with reference to FIG. 8involve the WWN module 38, selection module 36, configure module 40, andupdate module 42 (FIG. 2). Step 98 flows into connecting step 108labeled and which in turn flows into the identical connection shown onFIG. 9. Referring still to FIG. 8, in step 96, for Symm configurationsthe user will enter the serial number, while for Clariion the serialnumber or seed number may be used to generate a new WWN. In step 100 theSymm user will select an FA to connect to, while the Clariion user willselect an SP (see for example FIG. 22). In step 102, the user validatesthe WWN of the FA or SP (see an example of the user screen shown at FIG.23 for carrying out this action). In step 104 the user must enter atarget number for each FA or SP or a range of targets that will notexceed the total amount of FA's or SP's in the data storage system forwhich the host has a cooperatively functional relationship (the userscreen showing this operation is exemplified at FIG. 24). The user mustenter a single Logical Unit Number (LUN) for data storage volumes in thedata storage system or a range of LUN's for each target in step 106 (seeexample user screen at FIG. 25). Step 106 flows into step 108 labeled as“G” and which flows into connecting step 108 for FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 9, step 108 flows into step 110 wherein the HBAconfiguration file and or the sd.conf files are update with the resultsof all of the above steps involving the update module 42 of the tool 22(FIGS. 1 and 2). Incorrect settings are found and re-set to correctsettings in step 110. Options are selectable in respective steps 112 and114 for continuing or ending operation of the program or in other wordsstopping the run module 32, and the example user screen related to suchsteps in shown in FIG. 26, In step 112 the user may continue on toattach another data storage system to the host or another HBA to anotherdata storage system or end the program. In step 114, the user has aselectable option to finish or change another WWN.

For the sake of completeness, FIGS. 10-26 are now described in moredetail. FIG. 10 shows an introduction for the user and illustrates anexemplary case, wherein the version number of the tool is given, itsfunction is described. I.e., “(f) or connecting a Sun Solaris Host to aparticular data storage system, which is this example case is an EMCSymmetrix. This Symm may be connected via arbitrated loop or switchedfabric, or the tool also supports other data storage systems. Includingfor example the EMC Clariion via switch fabric.

FIG. 11 shows screen 122 on which the user may select one of severaloptions in accord with the operating system of the host computer, forexample a Sun Host with OS 2.9, or SUN Host with OS 2.7/2.8, or Sun Hostwith OS 2.5.1/2.6. A default selection is provided for convenience asshown.

FIG. 12 shows another exemplary screen 124 showing several optionsavailable for the user and as described above in the description ofcertain method steps. Option 1 is the default in this example and allowsthe user to connect this host to a Symm via Fabric “OR” Loop, whereinthis will produce “HBA Global Settings.” Option 2 is another choice thatprovides for connecting the host to a Symm via Fabric “AND” Loop, andthis will also produce “HBA Global Settings.” Option 3 is another choicethat provides for connecting the host to a Clariion via Fabric only, andthis will also produce “HBA Global Settings.” Option 4 providesconnecting the host to both types of data storage systems via Fabric“OR” loop for the Symm and Fabric Only for the Clariion to produce HBASpecific Settings. Option 5 allows extra features, and notes and furtherinformation are available as option 6.

FIG. 13 shows screen 126 wherein the user is warned of informationneeded to complete the configuration, while FIG. 13 on screen 128. FIG.14 shows screen 130 that includes a selectable list of HBA's that may bechosen including in the example: FIG. 15 shows on screen 130 the WWNinformation generated form, which can be recorded in some fashion by theuser to use for purposes such as zoning. FIG. 16 shows screen 132, forallowing the user to select which files they may edit. The user may editin one the three options or a select all for editing, and which in theexemplary case include: (1)/kernel/drv/sd.conf; (2)/etc/system; and (3)kernel/drv/lpfc.conf. FIG. 17 shows screen 134 that conveniently showsthe user, which files the system, files have been backed up to.

FIG. 18 shows screen 136 allows the user to specify which applicationprograms 25 (FIG. 1) are on the host or can be installed on the host forcooperating with the data storage system in a production environment. Inthis example the application programs are EMC PowerPath and Veritas DMP.

FIG. 19 shows on Screen 138 the user's instructions to enter the HBAnumber for configuration, which FIG. 20 shows on screen 140 theconnection options of switched fabric or arbitrated loop depending onthe data storage system, and FIG. 21 shows on 142 the user's instructionto enter the Symm serial number for calculation/generation of its WWN.

FIG. 22 shows on screen 144 the users opportunity presented to pick asingle FA or more that one. FIG. 23 shows on screen 146 the user'schance to verify the generated WWN and either change or accept.

FIG. 24 shows on user screen 148 the users chance to enter the targetassignments in accordance with the selected FA(s) per HBA. FIG. 25 showson screen 150 the user's chance to enter the LUN for each target andprovides some helpful information to the user about what is acceptableof note according to limitations of the host operating system. Finallyon FIG. 26 the user is presented on screen 152 with options as discussedin relation to FIG. 9 method steps above. In this example the optionsinclude selected another HBA or data storage system (e.g. a Symmetrix)or ending the run of the logic tool.

A system, method, and apparatus have been described for configuring ahost computer to cooperatively operate with a data storage system in adata storage environment. The tool embodied in this invention may beused aid configuration of a host computer, such as a SUN Solaris hostfor connection and cooperative operation with a data storage system,e.g. either an EMC Symmetrix or Clariion disk array via variousswitching and topological schemes including via “Switched Fabric” or“Arbitrated Loop”. The tool may support multiple file configurations anddifferent HBA types and work in various computing environments toconfigure computers to communicate and cooperatively operate with datastorage systems.

An important advantage provided by the tool is its ability to calculateWWN's in accordance with predetermined formula for doing so inaccordance with protocols prescribed for a particular data storagesystem for which the host to be configured with is cooperativelyoperational. The inventor has critically recognized a long-felt need forsuch an operational advantage because while the use of WWN's forcomponents which function in a data storage environment has becomewidespread in the advent of the internet, and particularly itsembodiment known as the world wide name. However, without a way togenerate WWN's the host configuration tool would be rendered unable toconnect to a data storage having a particular requirement that it'scommunication cards be identified in communications by their WWN unlessthat information was somehow retrieved from the data storage systemitself. Instead using information related to the data storage systemspredetermined way of allocating its own schema for defining WWN's thetool of this invention generates the WWN for use by the tool isconfiguring the host computer to communicate with that component.

FIGS. 27-36 show an exemplary representation of user screens useful incarrying out the WWN generation method of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 27, and also referring to an exemplary preferredembodiment, the user is allowed to input using information from screen154 the choice of a data storage system or storage array to communicatewith, e.g. an EMC Symmetric or Clariion. Knowing the serial number ofthe chosen device, which is a Symmetrix in this example, the user mayenter it using guidance prompts of screen 156 (FIG. 28).

Once the serial number is entered the tool returns the FA's availablefor communicating with on the selected storage array, using informationshown on screen 158 of FIG. 29, wherein the FA's are identified by portnumber. The tool may gather such information because it is availableonce the system is identified by serial number and can be pre-stored foruse by the tool or otherwise gathered. FIG. 30 shows the feedback onscreen 160 given by the tool to the user to verify choices for FA's tocommunicate with after the host is configured for such. Usingpredetermined information in accordance with the schema of the datastorage manufacturer, the tool generates the WWN for each FA selectedfor the identified data storage system (in this example case an EMCSymmetrix model DMX800) and shows the WWN's to the user on screen 162.

Reference: is made now to FIGS. 32-36. Shown on FIG. 32, a user ispresented with options on screen 164 that include checking more WWN's,exporting to a file that may for example be imported into a spreadsheetor database for the user, or to quit. By selecting the second choice ofexporting to file, the menu on screen 166 (FIG. 33) prompts for eitherthe default path to export or allowing the option of entering the user'sown path selection. FIG. 34 shows user screen 168 portraying the fileafter export, while FIG. 35 shows on screen 170 an exported list of WWNinformation generated by this tool and placed for example in an ExcelSpreadsheet format. Finally, on FIG. 36, the user may select frominformation on screen 172 the option to quit or check (generate) moreWWN's.

Having described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it mayoccur to skilled artisans to incorporate these concepts into otherembodiments. In particular other advantages and implementations of thisinvention may occur to one skilled in the art that are outside of thepreferred embodiments or examples given. Nevertheless, this inventionshould not be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but rather only bythe spirit and scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

1. A method for preparing a host computer for operating in a cooperativefashion with a data storage system, the method comprising the steps of:editing at least one host computer configuration file related to a hostadapter in the host computer for communicating with a host interfaceadapter in the data storage system under configuration program control,wherein a World Wide Name (WWN) of the host interface adapter is edited,the WWN of the host interface adapter being calculated from a serialnumber of the data storage system and being verified by the user;updating the host computer configuration file related to the hostadapter in the host computer in response to the editing step; based onthe updating, establishing a communication path, thereby establishing atopology, between the data storage system and a configuration programoperating in the host computer; and selectively configuring the hostadapter in accordance with the topology established by the communicationpath and the data storage system.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theWWN of the host interface adapter is updated in the updating step. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein the WWN of the host interface adapter iscalculated by the configuration.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theWWN of the host adapter is edited in the editing step.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the WWN of the host adapter is updated in the updatingstep.
 6. A system for preparing a host computer for operating in acooperative fashion with a data storage system the system comprising: amachine-readable storage medium encoded to enable the execution of thesteps of: editing at least one host computer configuration file relatedto a host adapter in the host computer for communicating with a hostinterface adapter in the data storage system under configuration programcontrol, wherein a World Wide Name (WWN) of the host interface adapteris edited, the WWN of the host interface adapter being calculated from aserial number of the data storage system and being verified by the user;updating the host computer configuration file related to the hostadapter in the host computer in response to the editing step; based onthe updating, establishing a communication path, thereby establishing atopology, between the data storage system and a configuration programoperating in the host computer; and selectively configuring the hostadapter in accordance with the topology established by the communicationpath and the data storage system.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein theWWN of the host interface adapter is updated in the updating step. 8.The system of claim 7, wherein the WWN of the host interface adapter iscalculated by the configuration program.
 9. The system of claim 6,wherein the WWN of the host adapter is edited in the editing step. 10.The system of claim 9, wherein the WWN of the host adapter is updated inthe updating step.
 11. An apparatus for preparing a host computer foroperating in a cooperative fashion with a data storage system, theapparatus comprising: means for editing at least one host computerconfiguration file related to a host adapter in the host computer forcommunicating with a host interface adapter in the data storage systemunder configuration program control wherein a World Wide Name (WWN) ofthe host interface adapter is edited, the WWN of the host interfaceadapter being calculated from a serial number of the data storage systemand being verified by the user; means for updating the host computerconfiguration file related to the host adapter in the host computer inresponse to the editing step; means for establishing a communicationpath, thereby establishing a topology, in response to the means forupdating and that is between the data storage system and a configurationprogram operating in the host computer; and means for selectivelyconfiguring the host adapter in accordance with the topology establishedby the communication path and the data storage system.